U.S. patent application number 11/288757 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-01 for temperature control with induced airflow.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ranco Incorporated of Delaware. Invention is credited to Nicholas Ashworth.
Application Number | 20060113398 11/288757 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36565656 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060113398 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ashworth; Nicholas |
June 1, 2006 |
Temperature control with induced airflow
Abstract
A thermostat comprising a body, a passage, and at least one
corona discharge apparatus is provided. The passage passes through
the body and extends between an inlet and an outlet. The corona
discharge apparatus is positioned within the passage to draw air
into the passage through the inlet and to expel the fluid through
the outlet such that the thermostat is able to sense the actual
ambient air within the structure within which it is mounted without
having to rely on free rise convection of the air. As such, the
thermostat is able to be flush mounted in a wall or other
structure.
Inventors: |
Ashworth; Nicholas; (Dublin,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN LTD.
483 NORTH MULFORD ROAD
SUITE 7
ROCKFORD
IL
61107
US
|
Assignee: |
Ranco Incorporated of
Delaware
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
36565656 |
Appl. No.: |
11/288757 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60632318 |
Nov 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
236/44C ; 236/1C;
236/49.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/30 20180101;
F24F 2110/10 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
236/044.00C ;
236/001.00C; 236/049.3 |
International
Class: |
G05D 23/12 20060101
G05D023/12; F24F 3/14 20060101 F24F003/14; F24F 7/00 20060101
F24F007/00 |
Claims
1. A thermostat comprising: a body defining a passage therethrough
and extending between an inlet and an outlet; an environmental
condition sensor positioned within the passage; and at least one
corona discharge apparatus positioned within the passage to draw
air into the passage through the inlet and to expel the air through
the outlet.
2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensor
senses at least one of a temperature and a humidity of the air.
3. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising means operatively
coupled to the at least one corona discharge apparatus for varying
a flow rate of the fluid through the passage.
4. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen
user interface.
5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the thermostat is adapted for
flush mounting in a wall.
6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the thermostat further
comprises an ozone depletion apparatus for removing ozone from the
fluid.
7. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising control components
operatively coupled to the environmental condition sensor, and
wherein the passage is configured to exhaust heat generated by the
control components.
8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the at least one corona
discharge apparatus comprises at least one electrode array that is
removably mounted in the passage.
9. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the at least one corona
discharge apparatus permits a variable flow of the air to flow
through the thermostat.
10. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the at least one corona
discharge apparatus comprises an emitter array in spaced relation
to a collector array.
11. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition
sensor is a thermistor.
12. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the at least one corona
discharge apparatus is removably positioned in the passage to allow
cleaning thereof.
13. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a high voltage
power supply operatively coupled to the at least one corona
discharge apparatus.
14. A thermostat, comprising: a passage extending between an inlet
and an outlet; a temperature sensor disposed within the passage; an
emitter array positioned in the passage; and a collector array
positioned in the passage and in spaced relation to the emitter
array, the emitter array and the collector array cooperatively
producing an electric wind in the passage when energized such that
air is drawn from an environment into the passage through the
inlet, moved past the temperature sensor, and expelled through the
outlet into the environment.
15. The thermostat of claim 14, wherein the positively charged
emitter array and the negatively charged collector array are
disposed proximate the inlet.
16. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the thermostat further
comprises a second emitter array and a second collector array in
spaced relation to the second emitter array, the second emitter
array and the second collector array disposed proximate the
outlet.
17. The thermostat of claim 14, wherein the temperature sensor is a
thermistor.
18. A method of controlling a temperature in a structure,
comprising the steps of: producing an electric wind in a passage of
a thermostat thereby drawing air from an environment into the
passage; circulating the air past a temperature sensor of the
thermostat; and expelling the fluid into the environment such that
the temperature of the air is monitored.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises
the step of filtering the air to remove ozone in the electric
wind.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of
filtering the air prior to reaching the temperature sensor.
Description
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/632,318, filed Nov. 30, 2004,
the teachings and disclosure of which are hereby incorporated in
their entireties by reference thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to a thermostat and, more
particularly, to air flow through the thermostat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One of the issues that a modern wall thermostat faces is
correlating a temperature sensed by an internal temperature sensor
(e.g., a thermistor) to an actual ambient temperature of an
environment. If the sensed temperature is very different than the
actual ambient temperature, the thermostat will not control a
heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the most
desirable or efficient manner. Therefore, ensuring that the sensed
temperature is the same as, or very nearly the same as, the ambient
temperature in a thermostatically controlled environment is
important. Unfortunately, this task often presents significant
challenges.
[0004] For one, thermostats are known to have a relatively large
thermal mass. Therefore, any heat retained by the thermostat may be
sensed by, and may undesirably influence, the internal temperature
sensor. Besides having a large thermal mass, thermostats can
contain components that generate heat. If enough heat is produced,
the internal temperature sensor may be adversely affected such that
the device is not able to provide a correct temperature
reading.
[0005] In addition, the position and/or location where the
conventional thermostat can be mounted is often limited due to the
operational requirements of the thermostat. In most cases, the
conventional thermostat relies upon convection (i.e., free rise
convection) to move air by an internal temperature sensor.
Therefore, the thermostat is usually mounted to a wall, as depicted
in FIG. 1, such that the thermostat juts out into the environment.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, air movement near the
wall due to convection is poor (i.e., the closer that air gets to
the wall, the more static the movement of that air becomes). Due to
the small degree of convection at and very near the wall, the
internal temperature sensor of the thermostat may very well only be
exposed to a small portion of the air in the environment instead of
a representative sample. As such, the temperature sensed by the
thermostat and used to instruct the HVAC might not be accurate
relative to the ambient temperature.
[0006] As may be seen in FIG. 1, a conventional thermostat 10 as
known in the art is generally mounted to a wall 12 of a structure
14 such that the device 10 projects outwardly into the environment.
Although not shown, the thermostat 10 is operatively coupled to a
heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system such that
temperature, humidity, or other parameters of the environment
within the structure is thermostatically controlled. As noted
above, the thermostat 10 relies, at least in part, upon free rise
convection to ensure that a temperature sensed by an internal
sensor (not shown) closely correlates with an actual ambient
temperature in the environment and that the HVAC system is
appropriately operated.
[0007] Since the traditional thermostat 10 relies on convection to
move air past the temperature sensor, the thermostat 10 must extend
away from a surface of the wall 12 and project into the
environment. Such an arrangement forecloses the possibility of
flush mounting the thermostat in the wall 12. To some, a flush
mount may be a more aesthetically pleasing way to secure the
thermostat to the wall 12.
[0008] Therefore, a thermostat that can improve the correlation of
a sensed temperature to an ambient temperature in an environment
and be mounted in an aesthetically pleasing manner would be
desirable. The invention provides such a thermostat. These and
other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive
features, will be apparent from the description of the invention
provided herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention provides a new and improved thermostat that
accurately determines the actual ambient temperature of the living
space by inducing airflow through the thermostat. The induced
airflow also exhausts any self-heated air and/or residual warm air
within the enclosure. The invention also provides a new and
improved thermostat that may be mounted flush with a surface of a
wall.
[0010] In one aspect, the invention provides a thermostat. The
thermostat comprises a body, an environmental condition sensor, and
at least one corona discharge apparatus. The body defines a passage
therethrough and extending between an inlet and an outlet. The
environmental condition sensor is positioned within the passage.
The at least one corona discharge apparatus is positioned within
the passage to draw air into the passage through the inlet and to
expel the air through the outlet.
[0011] In another aspect, the invention provides a thermostat. The
thermostat comprises a passage, a temperature sensor, an emitter
array, and a collector array. The passage extends between an inlet
and an outlet. The temperature sensor is disposed within the
passage. The emitter array is positioned in the passage. The
collector array is positioned in the passage and in spaced relation
to the emitter array. The emitter array and the collector array
cooperatively produce an electric wind in the passage when
energized such that air is drawn from an environment into the
passage through the inlet, moved past the temperature sensor, and
expelled through the outlet into the environment.
[0012] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of
controlling a temperature in a structure. The method comprises the
step of producing an electric wind in a passage of a thermostat
thereby drawing air from an environment into the passage. The air
is then circulated past a temperature sensor of the thermostat.
Next, the fluid is expelled into the environment such that the
temperature of the air is monitored.
[0013] Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present
invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the
principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view of a conventional
thermostat as traditionally mounted to a wall inside an
environment; and
[0016] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic view of an exemplary
embodiment of a flush mounted thermostat constructed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention.
[0017] While the invention will be described in connection with
certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to
those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 2, a thermostat 16 constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention is
illustrated. The thermostat 16 comprises a body 18, a passage 20,
and at least one corona discharge apparatus 22. The body 14 is
preferably constructed of a material such as steel, plastic, and
the like. In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the body 14
is configured to be mounted within the wall 12 of the structure 14
such that the front face 24 of the thermostat 16 is planar with an
exterior surface 26 of the wall. In other words, the thermostat 16
is flush mounted in the wall 12. The body 14 generally houses at
least one sensor 28, one or more control components 30, and a
passage 20.
[0019] The sensor 28 is able to sense one or more parameters of the
environment within the structure 14 such as, for example, a
temperature, a humidity level, and the like. Preferably, the sensor
28 is disposed within, adjacent to, and/or in close proximity to
the passage 20 so as to allow the sensor 28 to sense such
parameters from the air moving through the passage 20. In one
embodiment, the sensor 28 is a temperature sensor disposed within
the passage 20, e.g. a thermistor.
[0020] The control components 30 are devices used to control the
operation and features of the thermostat 16 and the HVAC system.
The control components 30 are preferably located on or in body 18
of the thermostat 16 in a manner permitting easy access for a user.
The control components 30 may include user interface components,
for example, one or more knobs, switches, depressible buttons,
rotating dials, touch screens, and the like, and may include
processing components, for example, a microprocessor, PLC, analog
circuitry, etc. In one embodiment, the control components 30 can be
covered and/or protected by a sliding door or pivoting cover.
[0021] The passage 20 is generally formed in the body 18 and
extends between an inlet 32 and an outlet 34. The inlet 32 and
outlet 34 each open through the front face 24 of the body 18 as
shown in FIG. 2. Each of the inlet and outlet 32, 34 can be
protected by a cover, a grate, and the like. At least a portion of
the passage 20 is proximate and/or adjacent the temperature sensor
28 such that the temperature sensor can sense a temperature of the
fluid moving through, or temporarily residing in, the passage 20.
Preferably, the temperature sensor 28 is disposed within the
passage 20.
[0022] The passage 20 also houses one or more corona discharge
apparatuses 22. Each of the corona discharge apparatuses 22 in the
passage 20 is an electrical device that relies on corona discharge
and ion charge attraction to move air and, preferably, filter
particles and pollutants from the air. In the illustrated
embodiment of FIG. 2, only one corona discharge apparatus 22 is
shown in the passage 20, although more may be used.
[0023] A typical corona discharge apparatus 22 employs numerous
corona discharge electrodes 36 arranged in arrays and spaced apart
from numerous negatively charged attracting electrodes 38 that are
also arranged in arrays. When assembled into an array, the corona
discharge electrodes 36 can be referred to as an emitter array.
Likewise, the attracting electrodes 38 can be referred to a
collector array. Due to the many array configurations and electrode
shapes that can be used, the arrays of the corona discharge
electrodes 36 and the attracting electrodes 38 have been shown in
FIG. 2 in a simplified form.
[0024] Each of the corona discharge electrodes 36 and attracting
electrodes 38 is coupled to and charged by a high-voltage power
supply 40. The corona discharge electrodes 36 are typically
asymmetrical with respect to the attracting electrodes 38. In one
embodiment, the corona discharge electrodes 36 are highly curved
and resemble the tip of a needle or a narrow wire while the
attracting electrodes 38 take the form of a flat plate or a ground
plane. The curvature of the corona discharge electrodes 36 ensures
a high potential gradient around that electrode.
[0025] The high potential gradient generated at or near the corona
discharge electrodes 36 basically pulls apart the neutral air
molecules in the immediate area. What remains after each neutral
air molecule has been dismantled is a positively charged ion and a
negatively charged electron. Due to the strong electric field near
the corona discharge electrode 36, the ion and electron are
increasingly separated from each other, prevented from recombining,
and accelerated. Therefore, the ion and electron are both imparted
with kinetic energy. Moreover, since a portion of the air molecules
in the passage 20 is ionized, the air in the passage becomes a
conducting medium, the circuit including the corona discharge
electrodes 36 and the attracting electrodes 38 is completed, and a
current flow can be sustained.
[0026] The negatively charged electrons are persuaded to move
toward the positively charged corona discharge electrodes 36 due to
the difference in charge between them. When the rapidly moving and
accelerating electrons collide with other neutral air molecules in
the area, further positive ion/electron pairs are created. As more
and more positive/ion electric pairs are produced, an electron
avalanche is established. The electron avalanche sustains and/or
perpetuates the corona discharge process.
[0027] In contrast to the negatively charged electrons, the
positively charged ions are persuaded to move from near the corona
discharge electrodes 36 toward the attracting electrodes 38. This
movement is due to the difference in charge between the positively
charged ions and the negatively charged attracting electrodes. Like
the electrons, when the positively charged ions move they also
collide with neutral air molecules. When they collide, the
positively charged ions can transfer some of their momentum as well
as excess charge to the neutral air molecules. Therefore, the
neutral air molecules are knocked toward the attracting electrode
38 or are ionized and then drawn to the attracting electrode. In
either case, the positively charged ions and other air molecules
end up flowing from the corona discharge electrodes 36 toward the
attracting electrodes 38.
[0028] The movement or flow of the air particles away from the
corona discharge electrodes 36 and toward the attracting electrodes
38 causes or results in what is referred to by those skilled in the
art as an electric wind or electrostatic fluid acceleration. In the
illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the electric wind travels through
the passage 20 in a direction depicted by arrows 42.
[0029] In one embodiment, the velocity and volume of the air moving
through the passage 20 is proportional to the voltage difference
between the electrodes 36, 38 and the size of the arrays. By
varying the potential between the electrodes 36, 38, the size and
dimensions of the passage, and the like, the velocity and volume of
the electric wind can be increased and decreased over a continuous
range as desired. In any particular configuration, this range may
be adjusted by varying the electric potential between the
electrodes 36, 38.
[0030] When the positively charged ions creating the electric wind
reach the attracting electrodes 38, the positive charge is removed
by permitting a recombination of the negatively charged electrons
with the positively charged ions. Due to the recombination, neutral
air molecules once again exist in the passage 20. Advantageously,
these neutral air molecules retain their velocity and
direction.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment, one or more corona discharge
apparatuses 22 can be disposed within the passage 20 for the
purpose of cleaning and scrubbing the air. Such beneficial and
desirable filtering can be performed in addition to generating the
electric wind. As known to those skilled in the art, contaminants
and particles tend to adhere to the attracting electrode 38 during
the corona discharge process. Therefore, the air passing through
the passage 20 can be purified. The attracting electrodes 38, which
are often plates, are preferably removable to permit inspection,
cleaning, and replacement. In an alternative embodiment, the entire
corona discharge apparatus 22 is removable.
[0032] As is known in the art, several patents and published
applications have recognized that corona discharge devices may be
used to generate ions and accelerate and filter fluids such as air.
Such patents and published applications that describe fluid and/or
air moving devices and technology include the following U.S. Pat.
Nos. 3,638,058, 3,699,387, 3,751,715, 4,210,847, 4,231,766,
4,380,720, 4,643,745, 4,789,801, 5,077,500, 5,667,564, 6,176,977,
6,504,308, 6,664,741, and 6,727,657 and U.S. Pub. Pat. Applns.
2004/40217720, 2004/0212329, 2004/0183454, 2004/0155612,
2004/0004797, 2004/0004440, 2003/0234618, and 2003/0090209. The
teachings and disclosure of each of these patents and published
applications are incorporated in their entireties by reference
thereto.
[0033] While other ion discharge or corona fluid movement
technologies may be employed in the system and method of the
present invention, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
utilizes the technology described in one or more of the preceding
patents and/or published applications, and most preferably, the
technology described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,504,308, 6,664,741, and
6,727,657 issued to Kronos Advanced Technologies, Inc., of Belmont,
Mass. The teachings and disclosure of each of these patents are
also incorporated in their entireties by reference thereto.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the thermostat 16 further
comprises an ozone depletion apparatus 44 for reducing the amount
of ozone in the fluid. In general, the ozone depletion apparatus 44
is any system, device, or method having the ability to degenerate
ozone into oxygen (i.e., dioxide) and/or absorb ozone. In
particular, the ozone depletion apparatus 44 can be a filter, a
catalyst composition situated proximate the fluid, and the like.
When the thermostat 16 is equipped with the ozone depletion
apparatus 44, the ozone generated by the one or more corona
discharge apparatuses 22 can be maintained below a desired level,
relegated to within a predetermined range, and otherwise
managed.
[0035] While the ozone depletion apparatus 44 can be situated in a
variety of different locations relative to the one or more corona
discharge apparatuses 22, the ozone depletion apparatus is
preferably disposed within the passage 20 proximate the outlet 34.
In an exemplary embodiment, the ozone depletion apparatus 44 is
generally downstream of the last corona discharge apparatus 22 in
the thermostat 16. As such, air flowing out of the outlet 34 is
purified by the ozone depletion apparatus 44 prior to entering the
environment.
[0036] As is known in the art, several patents have recognized that
ozone depletion devices and systems may be used to convert ozone to
oxygen, absorb ozone, and the like. Such patents that describe
converting and absorbing devices, methods, and technology include
the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,343,776, 4,405,507, 5,422,331,
6,375,902, 6,375,905, and 6,699,529. The teachings and disclosure
of each of these patents and published applications are
incorporated in their entireties by reference thereto.
[0037] In operation, and referring to FIG. 2, air is drawn into the
passage 20 of the thermostat 16 through the inlet 32 due to the
activation of one or more of the corona discharge apparatuses 22
and the corona discharge process as discussed above. Once drawn
inside the passage 20, the air continues to move through the
passage 20 in the direction indicated by the arrows 42. While
flowing through the passage 20, the air is circulated and generally
moved past the sensor 28 such that the sensor can sense, measure,
and/or monitor one or more of a temperature, a humidity, and/or
other environmental parameter.
[0038] After the air flowing through the passage 20 has been
directed by the sensor 28, the air is expelled and/or exhausted
into the environment through the outlet 34 by the corona discharge
process. Since at least one condition of the air has been sensed,
the thermostat 16 is able to manage the HVAC system to
thermostatically control the environment within the structure 14.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the corona discharge
apparatuses 22 that can be employed in the thermostat 16 also
filters and cleans the air traveling through the passage 20 of the
thermostat 16, which will aid in keeping the sensor 28 clean and
able to properly sense the desired environmental condition(s).
[0039] By drawing air from the environment into the thermostat 16,
the thermostat 16 is better able to sense the actual ambient
temperature within a dwelling, instead of relying on free rise
convection to move air through the thermostat. This lowers the
thermal mass of the thermostat 16 and increases the thermostat's
ability to rapidly sense actual changes in temperature, etc. within
the dwelling.
[0040] All references, including publications, patent applications,
and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to
the same extent as if each reference were individually and
specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set
forth in its entirety herein.
[0041] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising,"
"having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,")
unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are
merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring
individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in
any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of
the invention.
[0042] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described
herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying
out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading
the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to
employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for
the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the
claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover,
any combination of the above-described elements in all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
* * * * *